Is There Something Loose in my 300CD Engine Bay (plus some other queries)??

[OCKlasse]

Hey guys,

Just picked up an '85 300CD. I was looking in the engine bay and noticed something strange just freely dangling. Any idea what it is?



Also, I was trying to do the ALDA cleaning, but I don't know which banjo bolt to remove since my connections look a little different than the one on DieselGiant.

Finally, I have the dreaded vacuum element problem. Air blows through the side and center vents fine, but continuously blows through defrost, and does not blow to the floor. Any suggestions on the best place to start would be helpful.

Thanks in advance!

[toomany MBZ]

That may be the block heater cord.

Follow the pressure line from the switchover valve to the manifold.

85's are a bit different than what I'm used to.

[kerry]

That is the block heater cord. Pressure line runs from banjo fitting on back of intake manifold to overboost protection solenoid on the firewall then down to the ALDA.

I have a thread from about 8 yrs ago on how to replace the footwell vacuum pod.


Damn, my memory's good It was 8 yrs ago:

footwell vent pod rebuild tricks?

[SD Blue]

Originally Posted by kerry

...............Damn, my memory's good It was 8 yrs ago:....................

I've noticed that the jobs with higher frustration levels tend to stick in your mind.

[OCKlasse]

Thanks for the help. Is the block heater cord supposed to be stationary somewhere? Is it currently inoperable? Know where it goes? Thanks!

[toomany MBZ]

It should plug into the block heater itself, under the turbo.

In Cali, I wouldn't worry about it, unless you live in the mountains.

[kerry]

Given the vast distance between us, it's hard to tell if the cord is operable or not You'll need to plug it in to find out. Most people let it dangle out the front of the grille so it's accessible for an extension cord without opening the hood.

[Yak]

Before plugging it in, check the condition of the heater itself and the cord on the other end. The heater's on the block up behind the alternator on the passenger side. The end you can see may look intact and pliable, the other end may be old and frayed after decades of exposure. A short circuit of 110 V AC is quite possible.

For vacuum diagrams, do a search for "definitive" by Yak. The diagrams for the '83 Fed coupe are all there, '85 and Cali may have some differences.

[kerry]

Originally Posted by toomany MBZ

It should plug into the block heater itself, under the turbo.

In Cali, I wouldn't worry about it, unless you live in the mountains.

Not the end in the photo. That end plugs into an extension cord.

[sixto]

How do you have it dangle out the grill when you open and close the hood? Doesn't the cord get pinched somewhere?

Sixto
87 300D

[kerry]

Mine's just to the side of the grille, fed out in the slot beside the radiator.

[toomany MBZ]

Originally Posted by kerry

Not the end in the photo. That end plugs into an extension cord.

I haven't seen an extension cord with that plug. At the front of the car tie wrapped to a cross member is a three pronged plug that does fit an extension cord. But I haven't seen a Cali plug.

[kerry]

Originally Posted by toomany MBZ

I haven't seen an extension cord with that plug. At the front of the car tie wrapped to a cross member is a three pronged plug that does fit an extension cord. But I haven't seen a Cali plug.

There's a cover over the three prongs in the OP's photo. It keeps the prongs from being exposed to the elements all the time.

[toomany MBZ]

I see, thanks for the clarification.